Discovery Cover tips for families visiting with kids

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Discovery Cove in Orlando is one of those places that feels completely different from the rest of a Florida trip. We first visited in 2014 before we had kids, and loved it so much that we returned in April 2026 with our extended family — including 8, 9 and 10-year-olds.

On this trip, we really made the most of it — we rented a cabana, did the dolphin swim, and booked Sea Venture, which was only available to our oldest child due to the age restrictions. We also had a mix of weather, including some rain during the day, but honestly, it didn’t dampen the experience at all. If anything, it made the park feel quieter and more relaxed at times.

If you’re still deciding whether it’s right for your family, it’s worth reading Is Discovery Cove Worth It for School-Aged Kids? alongside this guide.

Where can I book tickets for Discovery Cove? Am I committed to a set date?

You can book tickets via Get Your Guide, tickets are for a set date, with or without the dolphin swim or additional parks. Get Your Guide offer 24 hour cancellation, as well as a reserve now and pay later option, this option allows you to pay in GBP over dollars. You can also book direct through the Discovery Cove website, again you will need to select a set date, booking direct does not include free cancellation however you can change your date once free of charge through contacting Discovery Cove. Payment will be in US dollars, and again options to include Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens are available.

Start Early – It Really Matters if you are doing activities

This is one of the biggest things I’d recommend. Discovery Cove opens at 7:15am, and if you’re planning to do the dolphin swim or multiple activities, arriving early really helps.

We got there at around 7:10am, and they were already letting people in and assigning dolphin swim times, this is managed on a first come first serve basis. Because we arrived early, we were able to choose a slot that worked perfectly around the rest of our day.

If you’re not too fussed about timing, you can arrive later — but if you’re hoping for a morning dolphin swim or want to fit in multiple experiences, I wouldn’t risk leaving it too late. You’ll often hear that morning swims are better because the dolphins are more active. However, our cabana was right next to the dolphin area, and we watched several sessions throughout the day — they all looked very similar to us.

There’s also so much to do across the park that even with a bit of bad weather, we stayed until around 5pm, so an afternoon swim wouldn’t have been an issue. That said, I still wouldn’t skip arriving early — having the flexibility to choose your preferred time made the whole day feel much more relaxed.

For more on this, see: Is the Dolphin Swim at Discovery Cove Worth It for Kids?

What to Pack (and What You Don’t Need)

One of the best things about Discovery Cove is how little you actually need to bring. The park provides towels, wetsuits, snorkel gear, lockers, and even reef-safe sunscreen, which makes packing much easier than a typical water park day.

Realistically, we found you only need:

• A change of clothes

• A waterproof camera or phone case

• Flip flops or easy shoes (the park website recommend water shoes but these were not essential, we brought ours with us but did not use them)

• Maybe a hairbrush and a few toiletries for after (there are showers and changing rooms available)

That’s it.

We brought our Insta360, and it ended up being one of the best decisions of the day. Because so much of the experience is in the water — snorkelling, Sea Venture, even just floating the lazy river — having something waterproof meant we captured loads of natural moments without needing to buy the expensive photo package.

Plan Around Your Kids’ Ages

This is where Discovery Cove can either feel amazing value or quite frustrating. For us, the 8–10 age range was perfect. They were old enough to snorkel confidently, do the dolphin swim, and really understand what they were experiencing.

But there are clear age cut-offs:

• 6+ for dolphin swim and ray feeding

• 10+ for Sea Venture, shark snorkel, and shark interaction

• Under 13s often need an adult with them

Our 10-year-old loved Sea Venture, but we did see a few kids start the experience and come back up — it can feel quite intense if they’re not sure what to expect.

It’s worth reading:

• What Age Is Best for Discovery Cove?

• Is the Sea Venture at Discovery Cove Worth It for School-Aged Kids?

Do Discovery Cove Offer Professional Photos?

Discovery Cove does offer professional photo packages, with photographers capturing moments during experiences like the dolphin swim. The photos are high quality, but they do come with a hefty price tag — on our visit, the digital package was around $250. It’s definitely convenient, but it’s worth thinking about whether you’ll actually use enough of the photos to justify the cost, especially when the day itself is already quite expensive.

Can You Take Your Own Photos (and See the Animals Without Paying Extra)?

From our experience, taking your own photos worked perfectly. All of the photos you see here — including the dolphin swim from the side and our underwater shots — were taken by us. The dolphin experience happens in shallow water close to the beach, so a family member not taking part can easily capture really clear photos and videos. We also used a waterproof camera for snorkelling and other activities, which meant we didn’t feel like we missed out at all by skipping the professional package.

You can also see plenty of animals without paying for the extra experiences. Dolphins, flamingos, birds, and otters are all visible throughout the park, so even if you don’t book add-ons like Sea Venture or ray feeding, it still feels like a really immersive and special day for kids.

What to Do If It Rains

We actually had rain on our visit — and surprisingly, it didn’t ruin the day at all. Because so much of Discovery Cove is water-based, once you’re in, you’re already wet anyway. In fact, the rain made parts of the day feel even more relaxed, as the park was definitely quieter. The previous time we went was brilliant sun shine and this would have definitely been our overall preference.

The key things to know:

• Activities still run in light rain, it rained during our dolphin swim

• The lazy river and snorkelling are completely fine

• There are covered areas for food and breaks

We just adjusted the flow of our day — did food during heavier rain, then went back into the water once it eased. The kids didn’t care at all, and continued to play on the beach during the rain. The only expectation would be storms / hurricanes but discovery cove do have a policy on this on their website that explains you can return another date if this was to interrupt your visit.

Are there seating areas and lockers?

Yes, there is plenty of seating area and large lockers that are complimentary as part of your park ticket. The seats are quite crammed together so don’t expect much privacy from other families.

Is there upgraded seating?

Yes, there are shelter chairs and cabanas available. These come at an additional cost. We’ve done Discovery Cove with and without really relying on a base, and for families, having a set space makes a big difference. With multiple kids, towels, drinks, and snacks, it’s nice to have somewhere to come back to rather than constantly moving everything around. It also gives younger kids a place to rest without feeling like you need to leave the main areas.

That said, it’s not essential. The park is well set up with seating and shade — but if your budget allows, it does make the day feel more organised.

Full breakdown here: Is the Cabana Worth the Money at Discovery Cove?

Food, Drinks and the Reality

The all-inclusive food is a big part of the experience, and overall it’s really convenient. You don’t have to think about spending money throughout the day, which makes it feel more relaxing.

Kids loved the slushies, snacks, and constant access to drinks, and adults having coffee, beer, or wine included is a nice touch.

The only slightly odd thing — and something we all noticed — was that there’s no ice cream, despite there being cakes and cookies. Not a big issue, just something we didn’t expect!

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

All food is included so you do not need to bring snacks, drinks or anything at all. If you do have specific dietary needs and want to bring some of your own food I can not see this being an issue just bring a small cool bag and not a large hard cooler. Bags were not checked prior to entry.

Final Thoughts – How to Get the Most Out of Your Day

For us, Discovery Cove is one of those experiences that really sticks with you — not because it’s full-on and intense, but because it’s calm, different, and genuinely memorable. The biggest takeaway from both of our visits is this: don’t try to treat it like a theme park.

Families balancing a busy Florida trip, as discussed in How Much Does 2 Weeks in Florida Cost for UK Families?, should weigh cost vs. value.

We stayed 15 minutes from Discovery Cove in a large family villa — for details on accommodation:

• Where to Stay in Orlando with Kids (Universal vs Disney Areas)

• Storey Lake Kissimmee Villa Review: A Family Base for Orlando Theme Parks

For context within our wider trip, see: 2-Week Florida Family Itinerary: Everglades, Florida Keys and Theme Parks

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.